Where has 20 years gone i purchased my SBS1 May 05 at a TAS Fair at Man Airport cant remember if the price was about £575 Alan Jones who ran the TAS shop explained how the information was processed
I didnt know much about the production side but i would like to know how such a brilliant product was developed i remember being told that thousands were produced.I still have original box and info in the loft.
The SBS-1 was an accidental product, conceived by David Goodman in his loft!
A pilot, who ran a succesful software company, David created the SBS-1 as a proof of concept for the commercial SBS-2. That's the story I was always told.
I bought my SBS-1, serial number 473, in 2005, second-hand for £400 from a policemen who lived in Lincolnshire and didn't pick up many aircraft. I didn't either until I got myself an external antenna.
BaseStation was, and still is, a vey good piece of software. When it first came out, the aircraft data was "stored" in XML files which soon became a major issue. Kinetic fixed this by adding an SQL database, the BaseStation.sqb.
I was in contact with David a few weeks ago, enquiring about the possibility of acquiring the BaseStation source code. Unfortunately it came to nothing but David's comment was:
QuoteI'm glad to hear that youre still involved with aviation spotting and as Basestation grew out of a project in my loft, even better to hear its still in use.
Maybe I'll ask again in 20 years time!
Hello Chimney1.
I remember Alan at the Aviation shop at Manchester Airport tall fella grey hair I was a good friend of the other guy that used to work there Pete, I used to buy lots of models from there at the last count 300 still have them all, I to bought my SBS-1 from the shop back in April 2006 I remember paying £499 the aviation shop then was on level 13 car park next to T2 was an excellent spotting view at the time but unfortunately because of terrorism threats you carn't go up there any more, both Alan & Pete have sadly passed away now RIP guys.
Gosh I didn't realise SBS has been going for 20 years, I bought my SBS1e in July 2009 and put up an outside aerial six months later which is still going all be it a bit weather beaten and needs replacing, then a few years later I got a SBS3. These days I am using piaware but also Basestation on ModeSMixer, I do like the Basestation format, its such a shame it never got developed further.
Peter
Hello Hilly sorry to hear the passing of Alan and Pete great times and products in the Level 13 shop The man with the knowledge was Pete Fairbotham on Finney Lane Stockport pity he never got involved.I recently read an article about Flightdeck and Airband and scanners on a site called *Mersey Radar*really interesting .Glad i stirred memories!
Just to update the article regarding Flightdeck was on Airband -on -line it is still available Chimney
Hi Chimmney1,
God I remember flight deck I used to shop there fantastic shop, then the shop closed and you could only buy online your right about Airband on Line that's what they renamed it so many memories, I do miss the aviation shop on level 13 car park Alan & Pete, I used to meet Pete for a beer in the Airport Hotel next to runway 23 very very happy times.
My SBS-1 (July 2005, one of the first 10 serial numbers) still sits under my desk working as well as it did the day I bought it.
Best thing i ever bought.
Got it from AOR got it home Serial number 737 hooked up to pc with a usb lead that lit up still have it as mobile unit and use a puck at home
Quote from: DaveReid on May 01, 2025, 07:47:14 AMMy SBS-1 (July 2005, one of the first 10 serial numbers) still sits under my desk working as well as it did the day I bought it.
Wow, one older than mine - number 000013! Mine isn't in use now as it doesn't do Mode-A but if that was possible, I'd happily resurrect it...
Still use mine sbs-1 classic to this day, had a few break but managed to get another to replace it..
And yes, the best thing i brought.. :)
Hi Smudger
Still using mine also, never had a problem with it since getting in 2005,
Like you say money well spent.
(Hope I've not jinxed myself now)